Overcoming shyness through Mindfulness-Based Stress reduction in Adolescence

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention in reducing adolescent shyness. A quantitative pre-test/post-test control group design was employed with 120 participants. The Shyness Assessment Test measured shyness across cognitive, physiological, and action-oriented domains. ANCOVA revealed that the MBSR intervention significantly reduced overall shyness levels and scores on the mental and action-oriented domains, but not the physiological domain. Gender differences were not observed. Findings suggest MBSR can mitigate cognitive and behavioural aspects of shyness in adolescents, highlighting its potential as an intervention for fostering healthy social development.